2024 Men's Soccer Roster
Thomas, Riley
Jersey Number 15
Riley Thomas
- Position:
- Defender
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 170
- Class:
- Graduate Student
- Hometown:
- Atlanta, Ga.
Bio
2024 - Graduate Season
Started all 18 matches during the season • Logged 1,636 minutes of play throughout the campaign • Played the full 90 in 17 contests, including a season-high 110 minutes in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Furman • Recorded six shots and two shots on goal during the year • Integral part of the Carolina back line that posted seven shutouts, and the second-best scoring defense in the ACC • Earned First Team All-ACC honors • Collected First Team United Soccer Coaches All-South Region recognition • A Third Team All-America selection • Became the 51st All-America selection in program history, the first Carolina defender to collect national honors since 2018
2023 - Senior Season
Appeared in 18 matches, earning the start 17 times • Logged 1,551 minutes of game action • Played the full 90 on 13 occasions throughout the year • Finished the year with one assist, on Quenzi Huerman's game-tying goal at Virginia Tech during the regular season • Had four shots and two shots on goal during the year • Helped Carolina to the fifth-best scoring defense in the nation, and first in the Atlantic Coast Conference • Defensive anchor on the back line that helped the Tar Heel defense post eight shutouts throughout the year • Voted to the All-ACC Second Team • Named to the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Second Team • Earned United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America recognition • Named to the All-ACC Academic Team • Named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll
2022 - Junior Season
One of five Tar Heels to start all 19 contests • Ranked second on the team with 1,700 minutes, playing all but 10 minutes the entire season • Staple on UNC’s back line that limited its opponents to an average of 6.3 shots per game, the lowest among ACC teams • Helped hold VCU shotless until the 89th minute, the longest streak for holding an opponent without a shot in the ACC all season • Kept No. 18 Virginia, VCU and UNCW without a shot in the opening frame • Named to the ACC All-Academic Team for the second year in a row • Earned Academic All-District honors from College Sports Communicators • Named to the All-ACC Academic Team for the second year in a row.
2021 - Sophomore Season
Appeared and started in 17 matches • Logged 1505 minutes, the fifth-most on the team • Assisted Cameron Fisher’s game-winning goal against Campbell on Sept. 14 • Named to the All-ACC Academic Team.
2020 - Redshirt-Freshman Season
Played in the final 12 games of the season, starting all of them • First career appearance was against Notre Dame on Nov. 15 in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals • Scored in the win over Virginia on March 13, the first goal of his career • Took four shots during the season, all of which were on target.
Prep
Three-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer • Played with the United Futbol Academy U16/17 teams • Previously played with the Georgia United club team • Included in DA best XI for 2019 season • Led United Futbol Academy to first DA playoffs quarterfinal bid as team captain • United Soccer Coaches prep All-America • Played every minute of 39 games in 2019 • Played every minute of 39 games as a junior at center back.
Personal
Riley Thomas is the son of Wendy and David Thomas • His mother was a gymnast at Florida and his dad is a commercial pilot for Delta Airlines • Has one younger sister, Addison • Birthday is March 15 • Majoring in exercise and sport science.
Started all 18 matches during the season • Logged 1,636 minutes of play throughout the campaign • Played the full 90 in 17 contests, including a season-high 110 minutes in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Furman • Recorded six shots and two shots on goal during the year • Integral part of the Carolina back line that posted seven shutouts, and the second-best scoring defense in the ACC • Earned First Team All-ACC honors • Collected First Team United Soccer Coaches All-South Region recognition • A Third Team All-America selection • Became the 51st All-America selection in program history, the first Carolina defender to collect national honors since 2018
2023 - Senior Season
Appeared in 18 matches, earning the start 17 times • Logged 1,551 minutes of game action • Played the full 90 on 13 occasions throughout the year • Finished the year with one assist, on Quenzi Huerman's game-tying goal at Virginia Tech during the regular season • Had four shots and two shots on goal during the year • Helped Carolina to the fifth-best scoring defense in the nation, and first in the Atlantic Coast Conference • Defensive anchor on the back line that helped the Tar Heel defense post eight shutouts throughout the year • Voted to the All-ACC Second Team • Named to the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Second Team • Earned United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America recognition • Named to the All-ACC Academic Team • Named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll
2022 - Junior Season
One of five Tar Heels to start all 19 contests • Ranked second on the team with 1,700 minutes, playing all but 10 minutes the entire season • Staple on UNC’s back line that limited its opponents to an average of 6.3 shots per game, the lowest among ACC teams • Helped hold VCU shotless until the 89th minute, the longest streak for holding an opponent without a shot in the ACC all season • Kept No. 18 Virginia, VCU and UNCW without a shot in the opening frame • Named to the ACC All-Academic Team for the second year in a row • Earned Academic All-District honors from College Sports Communicators • Named to the All-ACC Academic Team for the second year in a row.
2021 - Sophomore Season
Appeared and started in 17 matches • Logged 1505 minutes, the fifth-most on the team • Assisted Cameron Fisher’s game-winning goal against Campbell on Sept. 14 • Named to the All-ACC Academic Team.
2020 - Redshirt-Freshman Season
Played in the final 12 games of the season, starting all of them • First career appearance was against Notre Dame on Nov. 15 in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals • Scored in the win over Virginia on March 13, the first goal of his career • Took four shots during the season, all of which were on target.
Prep
Three-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer • Played with the United Futbol Academy U16/17 teams • Previously played with the Georgia United club team • Included in DA best XI for 2019 season • Led United Futbol Academy to first DA playoffs quarterfinal bid as team captain • United Soccer Coaches prep All-America • Played every minute of 39 games in 2019 • Played every minute of 39 games as a junior at center back.
Personal
Riley Thomas is the son of Wendy and David Thomas • His mother was a gymnast at Florida and his dad is a commercial pilot for Delta Airlines • Has one younger sister, Addison • Birthday is March 15 • Majoring in exercise and sport science.
Henri Veesaar Intro Press Conference
Wednesday, September 10
MBB: Henri Veesaar Intro Press Conference
Wednesday, September 10
Kyan Evans Intro Press Conference
Wednesday, September 10
MBB: Kyan Evans Intro Press Conference
Wednesday, September 10
